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Thursday, June 20, 2013

Last Post in Togo: The Lists

For my last post in Togo, I figured why not end on a happy note as I’m sure my trip home will be a doozy. My site-mate Katy Todd and I worked on two lists before we left Dapaong: Things we’ll miss about Togo and things we’re looking forward to in the U.S. So if you notice that I smile over the little things, please don’t find me odd…just content to be home.

Things we’ll miss about Togo:

An excuse to repos/take a siesta

Drinking (tchakpa) in the morning

Kids excited to see you

The simple life

Muslim call to prayer

No one is afraid to break out in a dance no matter how bad he or she is and if you wiggle your butt a little it’s like you’re the coolest person in the room

Children yelling your local name from corn fields as you walk down streets

Motorcycle taxis

Relatively inexpensive means of transportation

Frequency of bars/buvettes (although I don’t think that’ll be a problem for me in NYC)

Togolese food—it really is quite good

Open air buses :)

Playing with stranger’s kids without asking—yep, it’s not creepy here

Things we’re looking forward to in the grand ‘ol USA:

Customer service

Using debit cards

Change of climate

Stores having change ($$)

Trying on clothes before buying them

Reliable menus

Varied meals—(If you make me pasta or rice within the first three weeks that I’m home, don’t be surprised if I sigh and/or shed a tear.)

Sleeping on a real bed and not a cot

Fixed prices

Having something to do other than eat and drink

Not sleeping under a mosquito net/applying insect repellant

Posted hours of operation

Monthly cell phone plans/no worry about buying phone credit

Reliable electricity

Reliable wifi

TAP WATER

Anonymity/not having to say hi to everyone on the street

Cheese/milk/rice and almond milk

Well, there you have it. This soon-to-be Returned Peace Corps Volunteer is signing off of this African adventure and ready for the next adventure stateside.